Automatic spark plug cleaner



March26,1-9464 C. AQ LOZENSKY v 2,397,359.

AUTOMATIC SPARK PLUG CLEANER Filed Aug. 20, 1945 Patented Mar. 26, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AUTOMATIC SPARK PLUG ACLEANER Charles A. Lozensky, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application August 20, 1945, Serial No. 611,640

(Cl. 12S- 198) 6 Claims.

My invention relates broadly to internal com bustion engines, and more particularly to a ntting, attachable to one of the spark p-lug apertures of an internal combustion engine for facilitating the cleaning of spark plugs.

One of the objects of my invention is to Drovide an attachmentfor the spark plug aperture of an internal combustion engine which will accommodate one or more spark plugs which require cleaning in association with an active Spark plug which controls combustion in the cylinder ci an internal combustion engine for effecting the cleaning of spark plugs.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of attachment for a spark plug aperture of an internal combustion engine which forms an adaptor for receiving an active spark plug, operative in the ignition circuit of an internal combustion engine in association with spark plugs which have become inactive due to an accumulation of carbon deposits and which require cleaning.

Still another object of my invention is to provide a construction of spark plug cleaner arranged to be secured in a spark plug aperture of an in ternal combustion engine and operative to carry a multiplicity-of spark plugs which have become substantially inactive due to theaccumulation of carbon deposits in association with an active spark plug, operative in the ignition circuit of the internal combustion engine for eilecting through intense heat and pressure a cleaning'operation with respect to the inactive spark plugs.

Other and further objects of my invention re side in a construction of cleaner for a multiple number of substantially inactive spark plugs which is effective during the normal operation of an internal combustion engine for cleaning such substantially inactive spark plugs, as set forth more fully in the speciiication hereinafter following by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a fragmentary portion of an internal combustion engine showing the spark plug cleaner of my invention in position in one of the spark plug apertures of the internal combustion engine for effecting a cleaning operation of a multiplicity of substantially inactive spark plugs during the normal operation of the internal combustion engine; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the housing of a spark plug cleaner constructed according to my invention and showing a normally operating spark plug in position for controlling ignition in the associated internal combustion cylinder and illustrating a group of substantially inactive spark plugs in position for cleaning; Fig. 3 is a horizontal rsectional View taken on line. 3-3 of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of' spark plug cleaner f embodying my invention. f

As a result of the relatively poor and only partially combustible low-grade automobile fuels available during the past few years, spark plugs failures in internal combustion engines have been increasing due to accumulation of carbon deposits on the electrodes of the spark plugs atan increasing rate. Such carbon deposits are due largely to a non-gasied strata of low-grade fuel causing carbonaceous accumulation on the .spark plug electrodes to such an extent that such accumulation of carbon remains incandescent between the firing intervals. Such an` incandescentmass may cause premature firing and burning ofthe valves .with resulting engine inefliciency and rapid dejwhile the spark plug is cold and under sudden rise of temperature, due to the excessive heat of the oxygen llame, such treatment frequently re- V gsults in the cracking of the porcelain insulators veloped as a substitution for a spark plug in the spark plug aperture of an internal combustion engine and by which fouled, or practically inactive spark plugs in which the electrodes are encrusted with carbon deposits are subjected to high temperatures and pressures effective to re- The attach move the carbon accumulations. ment receives the normal spark plug which is connected in the usual ignition circuit for controlling the normal operation of the engine and in addition, the attachment lalso receives fouled spark plugs which are substantially inactive and which must be subject to cleaning operation.

My invention Vhas several forms, all of which are attachable to internal combustion engines for cleaning spark plugs during the normal operation of the engines, such as, for example, While an automobile is in normal use. The attachment is shaped to receive one or a multiplicity of spark plugs of fouled spark plugs to be cleaned.

Referring tothe drawing in detail, reference cylinder immediately below cylinder head I2.

character I designates an internal combustion engine including the usual distributor 2, from which cables 3, 4, 5, and 6 lead to spark plugs 1, 8, 9 and I8, respectively. The engine, in the arrangement shown operates in the usual manner in which the sparkV plugs I, 8, 9 and I8 are sequentially activated. The spark plug 8, however, is not mounted in the spark plug aperture II of the head V,I2 of the engine as is customary, and as is the case with'the spark plugs 1, 9, and It). In lieu of the'direct mounting of spark plug 8 in the engine cylinder head 12 I provide mounting means for the'spark plug 8 in the form of an adapter, or housing adaptable to the spark plug aperture II of engine cylinder head I2 as represented at I4 in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Y

VThe adapter housing I4 includes an external screw-threaded terminus represented at I5Which is formed to engage the internal screw-threadsy v these circumstances, the actual combustion chamber extends from the engine cylinder through the central portion I9 of the adapter housing I 4. so that the ignition eifected. at electrodes i3 results in explosion at high temperature and pressure which permeates the entire area through the hollow central interiorfl9 of the adapter housing I4.

Within this area of intensely high pressure at" extremely hightemperature of burning gases, I arrange the electrodes of the fouled, or` substanV tially inactive spark plugs designated at 282I, 22 and 23. kThe fouled, vor substantially inactive spark plugs 28, 2|, 22 and23 have their screw-` threaded` portions engageable with Vinternally screw-threaded .sleevelike extensions 24, 25, 2liV andV 2l .of the adapter housing I4. 'I'hcse internally screw-threaded sleeve-like extensionsZII, V25,

Y 26 and 2l of the adapter housing are Vrelatively short for positioning the electrodes 28, 29, 38 and 3l of the fouled, or 'substantially inactive spark plugs 20, 2| 22 and 23, respectively within the area. of^ high pressure and `intensely high temperature in the hollow interior I-SIV of theA adapter housing I 8.' The ,accumulation of carbon deposits on electrodes 28, 29, 38 and 3| have been rep,-v

,resented at 28a, 29:13'0a and 3io, respectively. VThesegrharrclened accumulations are 'subjected tov the high pressure and extremely high temperatures which occur in vthe'con'ibustion chamber in Y the hollow interior I9V of the adapter housing I8 for disintegrating the accumulated depositsand which the adapter housing is associated. Under Y The adapter housing -33 Yhas sleeve-like extensions projecting on axes at substantially 60, one sleeve-like extension being shown at 34, which is Vinternally screw-threaded at 35 to receive the screw-threaded portion of the active spark plug 8, and the other sleeve-like extension, one of which is shown at 36, internally screw-threaded at 31 for receiving the screw-threaded portion of the fouled, or substantially inactive spark plug 32. The fouled, or substantially inactive spark plug 32 is shown as having electrodes Y38 bearing an accumulation of encrusted carbon deposit 38a.

The electrodes I8 of spark plug 8 are activated through the ignition circuit of the internal combustion engine,V producing combustion of the explosive mixture which lls the hollow interior of the substantially Y shaped chamber 39 of the adapter housing 33, thus producing high pressures and extremely yhigh temperatures which serve to Y disintegrate the accumulated carbon deposits 38a of the fouled, or substantially inactive spark plug 32. l

One of the principal advantages ofthe spark 'plug cleaner of Vmy invention resides in the fact that fouled, or substantially inactive spark plugs may be cleaned without loss of time while an automobile is in actual operation and use. After a cleaningtreatrnent of a vrelatively short time period, the accumulated carbon deposits on the' "ferred embodiments, but I realize that various modiiications may be made, and I intend no limlitations upon my inventionV other than may be imposed by. the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows: v

l. AV spark plug cleaner comprising an adapter housing externally screw-threaded to enter the spark 'plug aperture of anv engine cylinder, an internally screw-threaded sleeve-like extension on rsaid housing'arranged to receive an activated sparkv plug for effecting combustionwithin said housing Yand a multiplicity'of sleeve-like projections onsaid housing, keach internally Vscrewthreaded to receive fouled spark plugs havingv carbonaceous deposits onV the electrodes thereof cleaning the fouled, or substantially inactiveY spark plugs.`

In lieu of the adapter' housing forfrnountingv four spark plugs as illustrated in Figs.' 1-73, I may provide adapter housings which will support'one,

Y two, three or more fouled, or substantially iriac-f tivespark plugs Yinassociation with the active sparkpllrlr-i.Y c

In VFig. 4 I have represented an adapterhous` ing arranged 'to @receive asingle fouled, or inacol a Y, having an externallyscrew-threaded ter-Y minus SIIY arranged to engage the internal screw threads I6 in the spark plug aperture Il `of the for treating the electrodes of Vsaid fouled spark plugs to the effects of high temperature and pressure Vwithin the region of said activated spark plus. Y p Y 2, A spark plug cleaner comprising an adapter Yinternally screw-threaded sleeve-like extension on said housing, arranged to receive an activated Y spark plug foreiecting combustion within said Y tive spark plug 32'.,` In' this arrangement the adapterhousing isV illustrated at 33 in the form vhousing and plurality of radially extending sleeve-like projectionsV on said housing, each insure immediately'adjacent the activated spark plug. y Y Y Y 3, A spark plug cleaner comprising an adapter Y housing externally screw-threaded to enterthe spark plug aperture of an engine cylinder, an internally screw-threaded sleeve-like extension on said housing arranged to receive an activated spark plug for effecting combustion within said housing and a multiplicity of angularly distributed sleeve-like projections integrally related to said housing, each of said sleeve-like projections being internally screw-threaded to receive the screw-threaded ends of fouled spark plugs having carbonaceous deposits on the electrodes thereof for maintaining the said electrodes within the region of combustion immediately adjacent said activated spark plug.

4. A spark plug cleaner comprising, an adapter housing externally screw-threaded to enter the spark plug aperture of an engine cylinder, an internally screw-threaded sleeve-like extension on said housing arranged to receive an activated spark plug for effecting combustion within said housing, a pair of sleeve-like projections extending in diametrically opposite directions from said housing, each of said projections being internally screw-threaded for receiving the screw-threaded ends of fouled spark plugs having carbonaceous electrodes thereof for positioning said electrodes within a region of high pressure and high temperature immediately adjacent said activated spark plug for disintegrating the carbonaceous deposits on the said electrodes.

5. A spark plug cleaner comprising a Y shaped adapter housing in which one terminus thereof is externally screw-threaded to engage the screwthreaded spark plug aperture of an engine cylinder, and in which the other terminal thereof are internally screw-threaded for receiving an activated spark plug and a fouled spark plug wherein said activated spark plug effects combustion within the said adapter housing and wherein the fouled spark plug is subjected to heat and pressure of the combustion Within said housing.

6. A spark plug cleaner comprising an adapter housing of Y contour including a sleeve-like stem portion and a pair of V shaped sleeve-like portions, said stem portion being externally screwthreaded at the end thereof fo'r engaging the screw-threaded spark plug aperture of an engine cylinder, and said V shaped sleeve-like portions, each being internally screw-threaded for receiving in one of said portions an activated spark plug for effecting a combustion within said housing, and receiving in the other of said portions a fouled spark plug having carbonaceous vdeposits on the electrodes thereof for subjecting said electrodes to high temperature and pressure within the region of said activated spark plug for disintegrating the said carbonaceous deposits on said electrodes.

CHARLES A. LOZENSKY. 

